A quantitative evaluation method of handedness using haptic virtual reality technology

This paper proposes a method for evaluating quantitatively the degree of handedness of a person by using the haptic virtual reality technology. A definition is also given of a pair of quantitative indices for handedness and dexterity of a person from the data obtained by this method using the factor analysis. A haptic display system has been developed consisting of two PHANToM OMNI haptic devices, a graphics display, and a computer for virtual space calculation and control. To observe the skill-fulness of two hands of a person, three virtual tasks have been developed: positioning task, force control task, and manipulation task. Ten male subjects aged from 22 to 23 years old have taken the test. The obtained performance data from these tasks have been analyzed using the factor analysis. Since the obtained factor scores for the right and left hands of each subject can be regarded as the skillfulness of the right and left hand, it is proposed to define the degree of handedness of the subject based on the difference of these factor scores. The proposed degree of handedness and the result of conventional LQ method did not contradict to each other. The calculated degrees of handedness, however, differ largely among the subjects. From this result, it is expected that the proposed method can be useful for detailed and quantitative evaluation of handedness.